Draft rigging



Oct. 24, 1933. D. s, BARRows DRAFT RIGGING 5 sheets-sheet l Filed June25, 1930 u.. e n t O ....v. d

Oct. 24, 1933. f'D. S.

BARRows 1,931,523

DRAFT RIGGING Filed June 25,

1930 3 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 24, 1933, D. s. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING FiledJune 23', 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICEDRAFT BIGGING Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to TheSymington Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of v Mary land Application June 23, 1930. Serial No.A463,172-

n 1o claims. (ci. 213-50) This invention relates to draft rigging forrailway rolling stock, and more particularly to an improved form ofarticulated coupler stem and associated vertical yoke.

5 Theprincipal objectl of my invention, generally considered, is toprovide an `articulated coupler stem of such a construction that it maybe interchangeably used with a standard horizontal yoke, or a verticalyoke interchangeable with a standard vertical yoke, and to so designsuch a yoke with a hooded front end that it may be employedwith draftlugs in which the general dimensions and strength are equivalent tothose of the standard draft lugs employed with standard vertical yokes,said yoke and the. associated draft lugs being formed to interiit forthe purpose of providing the necessary increase in hood width for thereceptioni of the ,articulated coupler stem'. v

Another object of my invention is the provision of aswivel butt couplerand vertical yoke adapted to be connected -by a horizontal key and usedbetween normally spaced draft sills in combination with front draft lugsof generally normal width, said yoke being interchangeable with astandard vertical yoke such as used with a rigid shank coupler, and kthecoupler being adapted forvuse with a standard horizontal yoke,v thecoupler butt for lthat purpose having side extensions or portionsincreased in width adjacent the rear ends of the key slot therein forincreasing the key bearing area, the yoke having the side walls of thehoodedl portion there-l of increased in thickness adjacent the rear endsof the key slots therein and extendedrearwardly at the same points, theassociated front'draftlugskbeing correspondingly notched to vreceivesaid extensions without decreasing the general width thereof. 'A

A further object of my invention is to pro-'-` vide a swivel buttcoupler connected to the' hooded front en d of an associated yoke by ahorizontal key, in combination with front draft lugs in which the stopfaces arenormally vdisbeing notched to receive vthe adjacent portions fof the side walls of the yokehood upon such rearward movement.

55 still further object of vmy invention is the posed rearwardly of therear edge of the yokev provision of a strikingcasting, sill tie memberand slottedfront draftlugs in whichfthe lugs are integral with, oradapted to be securely connecty ed to, a combined striking casting* andsill 'tie member, and the. lug shoulders forming the front stop meansfor the associated front follower are notched to cooperate withaspecially formed vertical yoke and associated swivel block of aco-Aoperating articulated coupler stem, the notched portionsof saidshoulders being reinforced by iian'ges extending 'along the upper andlower edges of the "slots therein and merging into the inner faces ofthe lugs, the loss ofl said reinforcementsfbeingcompensated for, ifdesired, by tapering flanges extending fromthe outer `faces ofthe lugsand received in the cooperating sill slots, said' lugs, if integralwith' thevcombined striking y'casting and sill tie memben beingdesirably further reinforced byy flanges extending from the outer facesthereof along the inclined lower edges to the sill tie member, starting4a short distance below the lower ends of said lugs so as fto overlaptapering reinforcements on the inner faces* thereof. y

An additional objectof my invention is to so design a swivel buttcoupler and connected vertical yoke thatv they are adapted lforvapplication between normally spaced sills of a railway vehicle anddisposed either with the center line of draft at normal elevation, orraised so that said center line' corresponds with the height oftheneutral axis of the draft sills, the yoke, at the same time, beingconstructed so that it isinterchangeable .with a standardI verticalyoke, and the' kswivel butt coupler being so designed thatl it is alsoadapted for use with a vstandard horizontal yoke. *Other objects and'advantages of the inventionrelating to the particular arrangement andyconstruction of the various parte will become ap` parent as thevdescription proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustratingmy invention, the scope whereof isdefined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is ar partial side elevation and partial longitudinal sectionof a coupler and associated alsl vertical yoke assembled with the draftsills. and y other parts of an associated railway vehicle underframe. j

Fig. 2 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view ofthecoupler, yoke and parts of the underframe shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a tranverse sectional view on the line 3-3 oi' Fig. l, lookingin the directionof they arrows, shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is avfragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the front end ofthe vertical yoke.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, lookingin the direction of the aI'IOWS.

Fig. 6 is a .vertical longitudinal sectional view of the novel form ofcombined striking casting, sill tie member and slotted draft lugsdetached from the draft sills and associated parts of the' railwayvehicle.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 6, but showing amodification.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of pivotalconnection between the coupler stem and associated swivel block.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of adonstruction corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing a modification, `theassociated coupler being shown partly in side elevation. I

Fig. 10 is apartial plan and partialhorizontal sectional View of thecoupler, yoke and parts shown in Fig. V9. K

4 .Fig. 11 isan end elevation of the striking casting and sill tiemember. l i

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10,looking inthe direction ofthe arrows. f f

, Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated bylike reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of myin-` vention shown in Figs. 1.to 6,;inc1usive, there is shown the stemor shank 1 of a swivel butt y coupler, or one having, a two-part orarticulated illustrated, the shank loops 5 and 6 desirably vhave theirrear edges formed cylindrical and coaxial with the apertures 10 thereinfor receiv ing the associated pivot pins 4, which ledges er1- gagecorrespondingly curved pocket portions 11 and 12 onthe swivel block 2for transmitting buii'ng forces, while'fpermitting the desired anglingtherebetween.. 'The correspondingedges of the flanges 7,.8 and 9 aredesirably curved coaxial with the corresponding pin-receiving aperturesand t into a correspondingly curved pock-` et 13, `and closely approachcorrespondingly curved shoulders or flanges 14 and 15 on the shank of'the coupler, aslight clearance, however, being desirably provided, asillustrated, so that the bearing for' the transmission of buffing forcesis normally between the curved edges of the shank loops'and the curvedwalls of the pockets receiving said loops.

Associated with the coupler 1 is a yoke 16 of the vertical type with ahooded front end so that there are provided side walls, 17 and 18 with atop wall 19 and a bottom wall 20.` In the presa horizontal yoke withoutundesirable side clearance. Inasmuch as this width is greater than thenormal distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls of standardvertical yokes, the yoke 16 illustrated has its side walls more widelyspaced than those of a standard yoke, the dimensions of said yoke,however, being such that it is interchangeable with the standard yoke.

The pivot pins 4 shown in the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 arerelatively short and provided with heads 2l for limiting inward movementwith respect to the swivel block whereby the inner ends of said pins,and particularly the upper pin, do not extend into the slot 22 andvinterfere with the key 23 which 9() serves for connecting the couplerstem l and the yoke 16. In order to retain the upper pin 4 in position,the upper flange 8 of the swivel block is preferably formed with a pairof lugs 24 and 25 grooved for guiding and retaining a preferably flatpin retainer 26. The retainer 26 is preferably apertured, as indicatedat 27, forv receiving .the head 21 of the top pin 4, said head beyondthe plate 26, whenin position, being preferably apertured, as indicatedat 28, for receiving a cot--v ter or other retaining means 29 forlocking the pin and retaining plate together and in position, therebynot only preventing undesired removal of the pin 4, but preventingitlfromrdropp'ing below .its normal position and interfering'with 105the draft key` 23. f

The lower pin 4, which is desirably constructe to be identical with theupper pin 4, has its head 2l normally received in an aperture 30 `inthev supporting'web or'shelf 31 formed on the lower 110 ange 9 of theswivel block. Inasmuch as there is no tendency of the lower pin 4 tomove upwardly, a cotter need not be used in the head aperture. i

As analternative, it will be understood that a pin 4a (reference beinghad to Fig. 8') o'fa height equivalent to the height of the associatedswivel block 2a only notched to receive the associated draft key, suchas designated 23 in Figs. 1 and2, may be employed instead of the pinsl 4of 120 the first embodiment for yproviding a pivotal connection betweensaid swivel block 2a and the as-v sociated coupler shank la. The head orupper end of the pin 4a may be upset, as indicated at 32, ,to hold it inposition, and, if desired, the lower end may be similarly treated,whichV construction corresponds to that shown in my prior Patent No.1,431,717, and makes it possible to' eliminate any projections on thetop and bottom flanges of the swivel block whereby it is possible', 130if desired, to avoid upwardly and downwardly embossing or offsetting topand bottom walls 19 and 20 of the hooded end ofthe yoke, whereby theheight of the coupler butt and cooperating yoke may be decreased.

1f, however, the retaining means for the pin, such as shown in Figs.1,'2 and 3, are desired,` the general vertical dimension of the yoke 16may be maintained standard by offsetting only theforward portions of thearms 19 and 201"Ln whichform the upper' and lower walls of the hoodedportion thereof along the longitudinal center line of the yoke an amountjust enough to accommodate the pin-retaining means and the projectinghead ends of the pins. Inasmuch as the retaining means on top and bottomof the swivel block 2 desirably extend corresponding distances from thecorresponding flanges or webs of the swivel block, the amounts of offsetof the arms of walls 19 and 20 are desirably equal, 150

thereby providing a symmetrical yoke which may be used with either armuppermost.

It will be understood that the draft rigging arrangement shown isadapted for application between normally spaced draft sills 33', andsaid sills are connected intermediate their ends-by a combined back stopand rear draft lugs 34 preferably formed as an integral casting with apocket 35 for receiving the rear end or loop portion 36 of the yoke. Forsupporting the yoke, a carrier 37 is desirably provided extendingbetween the sills 33 and connected to the lower flanges thereof in anydesired manner, as by means of bolts and nuts 38. In order to restrainthe cushioning mechanism, diagrammatically indicated at 39, againstforward movement when subjected to draft forces, front draft lugs 40 areprovided and desirably connected to the webs of the sills 33 as by meansof rivets 41, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Saiddraft lugs have the width of their shouldered portions 42 maintainedgenerally to correspond with the width of standard draft lugs for usewith vertical yokes, but are notched, as indicated at 43, to provide thenecessary clearance with respect to the side walls 17 and 18 of theyoke.

The draft lugs 40 vvare desirably formed integral as a combined castingwith a striking portion 44 adapted to engage the 4horn 45 of the coupler1 and depending side portions 46 preferably strengthened along theirfront edges by transverselyfextending flanges or webs 47 and rearwardlyextended along the sides of the sill websY as the slotted draft lugportions 40. The draft lug shoulders 42 are desirably reinforced byforwardly extending tapering ribs or flanges 48 above and below theslots 49, whichreceive the key 23. vThe lower ends of the lug orshoulder portions 42 are desirably bent forwardly and downwardly alongthe lower edges of the casting on the inner` faces of the lug portionsthereof, as indicated at 50, said flanges 50 taperingT to merge into.the lug portions, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. l

In order to compensate for the loss of this reinforcement, the outerfaces of the lugs 40 along the lower edges thereof are strengthened byoutwardly extending flanges 51 which may start from the side plates ofthe lugs where the reinforcements 50 start to taper thereinto andincrease in width to approximately the points where the reinforcements50 merge into the lug plates, and from there, continue forwardly anddownwardly to meet and merge with the sill tie portion 52 of thecasting.

In a similar manner, the casting is desirably reinforced on its outerfaces by means of flanges 53 preferably tapering outwardly from theshoulder portions 42 to approximately opposite the points where thereinforcing flanges 48 merge into the lug plates 40 and continue fromthere at preferably uniform size to either merge at the front ends ofthe slots 49, and from whence continue as single flanges 54 to join thereinforcing fianges 47, as shown in Fig. 6, or continue as spacedparallel flanges 53a to join the reinforcing flanges 47a, as shown inFig. 7.

The striking casting portion 44 is desirably formed with a rearwardlyextending web 55,A the rearmost portion of which is downwardly offset,as indicated at 56, to extend below and be connected with the centersill cover plate 57, the sides ofl said offset portion being bifurcatedand extended to connect with the tops of the shoulder or lug portions42. Said lug portions 42, in

adidtion to the connecting web portions 56, are desirably reinforced bytriangular gusset portions 58 between said web portions 56 and thetriangular reinforcements 48.

The coupler carrier" or sill tie portion 52 of the casting desirablycomprises an upper web 59 and depending flanges 60 preferably integrallyconnecting the 'side portions 46, -the outer flange 60 preferably being,in effect, a continuation of the flanges 47 of the side portions. Inorder to permit insertion and removal of the coupler stem 1, theintermediate part of the sill tie .portion 52 is preferably downwardlyoffset. as indicated at 61, an amount sufficient to provide a spacebetweenit and the striking portion corresponding with the extremevertical d1- mension of the butt of'l the coupler stem assembled. Theside portions of the sill tie are preferably disposed at a slightlyhigher elevation to form abutments 62 for supporting the associatedcoupler carrier block 63, said abutments being desirably notched, asindicated at 64, to receive depending lug portions 65 on the carrierblock 63 for holding said block in interylocked relation with respect tothe casting 40.

In order to prevent undesired removal or loss of the block 63, the sameis desirably retained in place by a bolt 66 extending entirely throughsaid block and the side portions of the casting 40 and held in place bya head at one end and a nut, preferably locked in position, at the otherend.

In order to maintain the swivel block 2 of an overall widthcorresponding generally with that of a swivel block used with ahorizontal yoke, the intermediate portions of the sides of said blockare preferably extended or bulged, as indicated at 67, which extensionslie in the vicinity of the slot 68, and thereby provide a somewhatgreater bearing area between said swivel block and the rear edge of thekey 23. The depth of the extensions corresponds with the depth of thenotches 43 in the lugs 40 or shouldered portions 42 thereof wherebyadequate clearance is provided between the swivel block and said lugs.The side walls 17 and 18 of the yoke hood desirably have their innerfaces bulged or extended outwardly and are provided with lateralreinforcements on the outer faces thereof around the key slots therein,as indicated at 69, at points corresponding with the bulges 67 on theswivel block and notches 43 in the draft lugs, the depth and thicknessof said reinforcements or extensions 69 corresponding with the notches43. On account of these extensions, the bearing area betweenl the key 23and the rear ends of the slots in the walls 17 and 18 is maintained asin the standard vertical yoke, while, at the same time, the interiorwidth of the yoke hood is increased, and because the exterior width ofthe yoke hood is only locally increased adjacent the notches 43 in thedraft lugs, lthe overallr width of said lugs may be maintained toapproximately correspond with those for a standard vertical yoke.

In order to provide for the rearward extension of the yoke slots toenable the key to move rearwardly with respect thereto, while notappreciably increasing the weight of the yoke, the side walls of saidyoke are preferably extended locally adjacent the rear ends of said yokeslots, as indicated at 70. k

From a consideration of Fig. 2 particularly, it will be seen that therearv edges of the side walls 17 and 18 normally lie forwardly of the150 rear faces of the draft lugs ll0 or shoulders a2 thereof. Thisconstruction is provided be cause of the rearward movement of the yokeon buff. The relation of the coupler slot, the yoke side wall slots, thesill and lug slots, is such, in the present embodiment, that when thecoupier is subjected to bufllng forces, it first moves rearwardly untilthe front edge of the slot 68 therein engages the front edge of the key23. whereupon the key moves rea'rwardly until the rear edge thereofengages the rear end of the slotted portions in the side walls 17 and 18of the yoke hood, moving the yoke rearwardly so that the closed end 36thereof moves toward the back stop casting 34, and upon a full closureof the gear only normal clearance remains therebetween. At the sametime, the extensions 70 on the yoke side walls move into the, notches 43in the draft lugs 40 and the forwardportions 19 of the upper arms arelikewise received in notches 71 in the upper ends of said\eliou1derportions 42, the lower arm of the yol'e being desirably formed to liebelow the lower ends of the shoulder portions 42 of the lugs. The sidesof the yoke adjacent the front ends of the slots 18 are desirablyreinforced on the inner sides thereof, as indicated at 72, the sides ofthe coupler stem 1 being correspondingly notched, as indicated at 73, toreceive said reinforcements and provide the necessary clearance for adesired amount of relative angling of the coupler. I

As a concrete example, illustrative but not limiting, of how the partspreferably move when the coupler is subjected to buil, it might bestated that with a "draft gear 39 having 21/2," normal travel, the keyslides in the coupler 5/8" and in the yoke ls/'v, the yoke moving to therear 1A" upon full closure of the gear. If the gear employed has agreater travel, of course, the yoke will move to the rear acorrespondingly greater distance.

The foregoing embodiment of my invention may be employed when thelongitudinal center line of the coupler and connected yoke is disposedat normal elevation with respect to the draft sills, or as a concreteexample, illustrative but not limiting, when said center line oftheconnected coupler yoke is disposed 7 from the tops of 12" draft sills,or from the bottom surface of the associated sill cover plate. \If thecoupler and 4connected yoke are raised, as has been contemplated, untilthe longitudinal center line thereof is at the same elevation as theneutral axes of such draft sills, or, as a nonlimiting example, only 6from the tops thereof, it is necessary to modify the construction of thetop portion of the yoke hood and adjacent portion of the swivel block ifthe desirable results heretofore pointed out are to be accomplished,such modification being necessary, as will be understood, in order toavoid interference between the top of the yoke hood and the sill coverplate.

Referring now to the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 9tov l2, inclusive, a construction is there shown in which thelongitudinal center line of the coupler and connected yoke has. beenraised, as indicated in the preceding paragraph, so that it correspondsin elevation with the neutral axes of the draft sills, that is, thecenter line of draft corresponds with the center lines of strength orneuf tral axes oi the connected draft sills.

In the present embodiment, as in the previous weies embodiment, thecoupler stem 1b is of the swivel butt type having a swivel block orbutt' portion 2b connected to the coupler shank by pivotal means 3bwhich, in the present embodiment, desirably takes the form of aone-piece pin which extends through the shank loops or rearwardlyextending flanges or webs 5D and 6b on the coupler stem and intercalatedflanges or webs 7b, 8b and 9b on the swivel block. The engaging edges ofthe parts are preferably constructed as in the preceding embodiment, sothat provision is made for the transmission of draft and buiiing forceswhile allowing for the desired angling or pivotal motion therebetween.

Associated with the coupler stem 1b is a yoke 16b of the vertical typewith a hooded front end provided with side walls 17b and 18h, preferablyreinforced, and otherwise constructed approximately as in the precedingembodiment. Connecting the upper and lower edges of said side walls is atop wall 19h and a bottom wall 20h,I said walls being extensions of thetop and bottom arms of the yoke 16h, the butt of the coupler lb orswivel block portion 2b thereof preferably fltting snugly between thewalls 17b and 18b with the width of the swivel block proportioned toproperly fit between the side walls of the yoke, as in the precedingembodiment, so that said swivel block may, if desired, be usedinterchangeably with a standard horizontal yoke without undue sideclearance.

The pivot pin :ib is preferably of uniform section through the majorportion of its length, but is notched adjacent the intermediate portionthereof, as indicated at '14, to receive the associated horizontal draftkey 23h, and the lower end thereof is reduced in section, as indicatedat 2lb, and normally received in a preferably flat pin retainer 26h, theedges of which are held in place between a pair of angular lugs 241 and25, preferably extending from the lower flange 9b of the swivel block.

The coupler stem lb and swivel block 2b are desirably connected togetherby means of the pin 3b prior to insertion in place with respect to theyoke, as by dropping said pin tb upon the retainer plate 2Gb with thereduced section 2lb passing through an aperture in said plate, whereuponthe pin and plate may be locked together by means of a cotter 29h, ifdesired, although it will be understood that this is not essential, asthe parts` wil be held together by gravity. The advantage of the presentconstruction over that of the first embodiment is thatit avoids anyextension on the top flange of the swivel block whereby, although theheight of the swivel block may generally correspond with that of thefirst embodiment, yet by eliminating the pin retaining means at the topthe overall height may be so reduced that the top wall 19b of the hoodedsection of the yoke may be formed as a continuation of the top arm ofthe yoke and disposed at the same elevation without any bulging, asinthe previous embodimenh whereby it will be appreciated that therelative elevation of the coupler and connected yoke may becorrespondingly'raised, or to the position where a center linecorresponds with the neutral axes of the associated draft sills. Thelower wall 20b of the yoke is, of course, bulged downwardly, as in thepreceding embodiment, to accommodate the pin retainer lugs 24b and 25h,and the extension 2lb of the pivot pin.

As in the preceding embodiment, the associated coupler and yoke may beemployed besubstantially corresponding with, although 1t tween normallyspaced draft sills and used with a combined back stop and rear draftlugsformed asin the preceding embodiment. For supporting the yoke, a carriermay lbe provided, as in the precedingv embodiment, and supported fromthelower flanges of the sills. In order to restrain the cushioningmechanism, diagrammatically indicated at 39h, against forward movementwhen subjected' to draft forces, a combined striking casting withintegral sill tie member Vand slotted front draft lugs may be employed,as in the preceding embodiment, suitably modified, however, because ofthe raising of the parts.

As an alternative, I may employ draft lugs lOD separate from thestriking casting and sill tie member llib and connected to the innersides of the sills 33h, asbymeans of rivets 41". The width of the stopshoulders or flanges 42b of said draft lugs 4Cb preferably correspondswith that of the draft shoulders or flanges 42 of the precedingembodiment, said flanges or shoulders being correspondingly notched, asindicated at 43h, to` accommodate the swivel block and yoke side wallreinforcements, as previously explained in connection with the firstembodiment. The lug shoulders or flanges 42h, as in the precedingembodiment, are desirably reinforced by tapering flanges or gussets 48D,()b and 58h, the forward portions of the slotted draft lugs-4()b beingdesirably connected by common rivets 'I5 to the side wall portions 461of the combined lstrikingcasting and sill tie member 44h.

tending side portions 4Gb of the combined strik- 'ing casting and silltie member 44b and the associated draft lugs h, the side wall portions4Gb being bifurcated and extended above and `below the key receivingslots 49b in said draft lugs.

The striking casting and sill tie member 44b is desirably formedwwitha-rearwardly extending web or flange 55h, the rearmost portion of whichls desirably strengthened by an up-turned flange 56b braced to the web-55lo by means of triangular gussets 571' and desirably connected to thevertical flange '76 of the end sill 77, as by means of rivets 78. Thisconstruction compensates for the necessary decrease in height of thestriking face Aof the casting due to the raising of the coupler andyoke.` I

.The combined casting 44h, as in the previous embodiment, desirably hasthe sides 4Gb connected by an integral sill tie portion 52", preferablyformed as in the preceding embodiment,

vbut correspondingly raised in`A accordance with the raising of thecoupler and yoke, a removable carrier block 63b of similar constructionand similarly connected to, said castinglbeing also desirably proyided.j Y l Although the sills inthe present embodiment are shown as Z-shaped,rather than-as channels,

it will be understood that either Z- or channel- From the foregoingdisclosure, it Awill be seen.

that I have devised an articulated coupler stem and vertical yoke.combination in which the parts are so designed that the swivel block orbutt of the coupler may have an overall width 'may be slightly lessthan, that normally employed with a horizontal yoke or one with widelyspaced side arms, whereby the key bearing area need not be substantiallydecreased. The slots. in the connected members are so proportioned thatthe yoke has some rearward movement when the coupler is subjected tobufng forces whereby the slotted side Walls thereof normally lieforwardly of the draft lug stop shoulders.

"Ihe stop shoulders are designed to have an overall widthrvcorresponding with that employed with a standard'vertical yoke andrigid stem coupler combination, whereby the front follower bearing areais not appreciably reduced, the side walls of the yoke hood are extendedrearwardly of the ends of the slots therein locally with respect to saidslots to maintain thedesired strength, and the draft lug shoulders arenotched to receive saidextensions upon rearward movement of the couplerand associatedyoke, said yoke side walls not only being extendedrearwardly, but reinforced by lateral extensions fitting in the lugnotches for maintaining the desired key bearing area. The draft lugs maybe formed separate or integral with the striking casting and sill tiemember and reinforced, not only by inner tapering ribs above and'belowthe key "slots, but by corresponding outer ribs ex-4 tending to thefront end `of the combined casting and outer ribs extending along` thelower edge of the lugs tothe sill tie member. On-account of theaforementioned improvement,A the swivel butt coupler employed may beinterchangeable for usewith either a horizontal or vertical yoke,

the vertical yoke employed may be linterchange- I 1. In railway draftrigging, in combinationy with draft sills, a hooded vertical yokevformed with key slots, acoupler stem fltting therein and formed with keyslots, slotted draft lugs connected to the inner faces of said sills andprovided with stop shoulders, a ke'y connecting said coupler and yokeandreceived in the yoke, coupler stem and dra-ft lug slots, and cushioningmechanism embraced betweenv said coupler stem and yoke, the slots insaid coupler stem and yoke providing for coupler stem travel withrespect to the yoke less than the permissible travel of the lmechanismunder the action of buing forces,

the slots in the draft lugs being extended rearv Wardly'of Ythe normalposition of the key an amount sufficient to permit full compression ofsaid cushioning mechanism, so that the yoke is caused to move rearwardlyupon full compression of the mechanism until the rear edge of the hood.thereof approaches the plane of the lug stop shoulders.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a hoodedvertical yoke, a coupler stem fitting therein, and Aslotted draft lugsconnected tothe inner faces of said sills'and provided with stopshoulders normally engaged by associated cushioning mechanism, the over-Y all width of" the yoke hood adjacent the slots therein being greaterthan the distance between the' innermost portions of the stop shoulders,the rear edge of the 'yoke hood being normally disposed forwardly ofsaid stop shoulders, said stop shoulders being notched, and the widenedvportion of the yoke hood moving into said notched portions of the stopshoulders when the coupler is subjected to bulng forces.

3. A coupler stem with a swivel block pivotally connected to the rearend thereof, said stem and blockbeing slotted to receive a horizontalkey, the width of said block being increased locally adjacent said slotto the rear end thereof to present flat side faces of maximum spacingfor use with a. yoke with widely spaced side arms, said block beingdecreased in width above and below said slotted portion to adaptv itforuse also with a vertical yoke, the side walls of which are spreadlocally to take the enlarged slotted portion of the swivel block.

4;. A front draft .lug comprisinga main web adapted for connection to anassociated sill and slotted for receiving a draft key, a ange extendinginwardly from said web along substantially the full height thereofand'functioning as a stop shoulder, that portion of said flange adjacentthe rear endA of said slot being reduced in width to receivecorresponding reinforcements on `an assooiated yoke.

5. In combination with the draft sills of a car, a pair of front draftlugs each comprising a main web adapted for connection to an assoelatedsill and slotted for receiving a vdraft key, a flange extending inwardlyfrom each web along substantially the full height thereof andfunctioning as a front stop shoulder, that portion of said ange adjacentthe rear end of said slot being reduced in width to-receivecorresponding reinforcements on an associated yoke.

(i. in railway vdraf t rigging, in combination with `draft sills, a yokewith transversely spaced walls adjacent its forward end, a coupler sternfitting therebetween, means connecting said coupler and yoke, and draftlugs connected to the inner faces of said sills and formed with stopshoulders adapted to be engaged by cushioning mechamism, the width ofsaidI yoke over'said walls being "greater than the distance between theinnermost portions of said stop shoulders, the rear edges of said wallsbeing normally positioned forward of said shoulders, said stop shouldersbeingmotched to receive portions of said yoke walls when movedrearwardly under the actionA` 't5'v dfbumng forces.

'7. in railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a couplerstem fitting therebe tween, a swivel block pivoted to the rear portionof said stem, said stem and swivel block being slotted to receive adraft key, said swivel blockbeing formed with lateral porjections exweisse tending rearwardly from said key slot and serv ing to increasethe key bearing area, awoke having a hooded forward end with side wallsspaced laterally lto correspond with the width of the swivel block oversaid projections for receiving the-same therebetween, and lugs connectedto said sills and provided with front stop faces adapted for engagementwith an associated follower, said yoke havingslots lnormally registeringwith the coupler slots for receiving a connecting draft key, and theportions of said yoke defining rear ends of said slots being normallydisposed forwardly of said front stop faces.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a couplerwith a twopart stern` fitting therebetween and comprising a butt portionpivoted to thel rear portion of the coupler shank, said stem beingslotted to receive a draft key, said butt portion being formed withprojections on the sides extending rearwardly from said key slot, a yokehaving.: a. hooded forward end with side walls spaced to correspond withthe nominal width of the butt portion and with its inners surfacesbulged locally to receive said projections, projections on the outersurfaces of the yoke side walls approximately corresponding with thebutt portion projections, said side walls-having slots for receiving thedraft key and said projections serving to reinforcethe walls around therearmost portions "of said slots; said slots being extended rearwardlyof the normal position of the draft key an amount less than the rearwardtravel of the coupler upon buing movement, and lugs connected to saidsills and' providedwith front stop faces adapted for engagement withanassociated follower, said lugs having their inner edges spaced'adistance less than thev width of the yoke over its projections andprovided with notches to receive` said projections upon rearwardmovement of said yoke.

9. A yoke having a hooded front end.provided with two pairs ofoppositely disposed walls, a pair of such walls being bulged locallyalong their central portions, the walls normally lying in uprightpositions having slots elongated rearwardly from the normal position ofthe rear edge of an associated draft key to enable said key to moverearwardly with respect thereto under the action of bulng forces, saidwalls being extended locally around the rear ends of said slots topermit said elongation without appreciably increasing the weight of theyoke.

.10. A draft lug comprising a web portionadapted for connection to anassociated draft sill and slotted for receiving a draft key, and` a stopportion extending from said web portion and formed with a notchintermediate the ends thereof to provide clearance with respect to anassociated yoke.

DONALD S. '.BARROWS.

lOi)

